Heavenly Rebellion: The Human Race's Rise to Prominence

Feng's steps were heavy and uneven as he pushed deeper into the forest, following the faint traces of the Blackwood Wolves' trail.

His body ached, his wounds screamed for rest, but he forced himself forward. The scent of the wolves lingered in the air—a mix of earth, blood, and raw ferocity.

His sharp senses, heightened by the Heaven's Pact fragments he had absorbed, guided him like an unerring compass.

"I didn't think I would be this injured. They were only at the first level of Qi Condensation. Even the alpha wolf was, at most, at the peak of the second level."

After what felt like an eternity, the dense trees parted to reveal a hidden hollow.

The entrance was partially obscured by a curtain of ivy, but the unmistakable stench of the pack clung to the air. This was it—the Blackwood Wolves' den.

The hollow yawned before him, a dark, cavernous space carved into the base of a rocky hill.

Claw marks marred the stone walls near the entrance, and tufts of fur were scattered across the ground.

The faint glow of sunlight barely penetrated the thick canopy above, leaving the den shrouded in shadows.

Feng staggered to the entrance, his breath shallow and labored.

His vision blurred for a moment, and his knees buckled as exhaustion threatened to pull him under.

He leaned heavily against the cool stone wall, fighting to remain conscious.

I need to rest, or I won't make it, Feng thought, gritting his teeth against the wave of dizziness.

He scanned the interior of the den, his sharp eyes picking out a corner that seemed undisturbed—a small alcove sheltered by a jutting rock.

Slowly, he made his way over, collapsing against the wall with a muffled groan.

"System," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "How long… until the Heaven's Pact is complete?"

[Host's Heaven's Pact is nearing completion. Estimated time: 2 hours. Host is advised to meditate to facilitate the process.]

Feng nodded weakly.

He crossed his legs and forced his breathing to steady, slipping into a meditative state despite the sharp pain radiating through his body.

His focus turned inward, his awareness sinking into the flow of energy within him.

As the minutes passed, a strange warmth began to spread through Feng's core.

The fragmented energy of the wolves he had absorbed started to coalesce, merging into something far greater than its parts.

His broken soul, once faint and fragile, now pulsed with newfound vigor.

Two hours later, the warmth erupted into a blazing inferno. Feng's eyes snapped open, his body rigid as the energy surged through him.

A sharp pain lanced across his back, as if molten fire was being etched into his skin.

He gritted his teeth, sweat streaming down his face as he endured the transformation.

Crap, if I don't focus, I'm gonna pass out. If I pass out, there's no telling if the Heaven's Pact will be fully formed. Feng's eyes shone with ferocity.

Ever since he found out he was a broken soul, he had always forced himself to cultivate, working harder than anyone else, even when blood seeped out of his body, even when pain wracked his insides.

He always forced himself to work harder to make up for the difference, but it was never enough. Now that he had a chance to change things—

There's no way I'm gonna collapse here. If I do, I don't deserve to be strong.

The pain was excruciating, but Feng refused to cry out.

His determination was unshakable, and he focused on the sensation of the Heaven's Pact solidifying within him.

And yet, unbeknownst to him, something was happening in the area where he had previously fought the Blackwood Wolves.

"Hoh, it seems that waste got attacked by Blackwood Wolves. Judging from their remains, they should only be at around the first level, at most the second level of Qi Condensation," someone spoke.

Looking closer at his features, it was Jun, the one who had mocked Feng previously when he was ousted from the tribe.

"Why are we even out here, Jun? What kind of treasure could a waste like that possibly have?" asked another villager.

He looked a bit older than Jun and pulsed with more power—clearly, he was at the fifth level of Qi Condensation. It was Ren.

"You know that orphan was brought here when his parents were at death's door.

Even though he is a waste, his parents must have left something behind for him before they died, considering the village took care of him until he was 15, even when he couldn't form a Heaven's Pact," Jun replied.

"This better be worth it, Jun," Ren said, looking irritated.

"Yes, yes, Elder Brother Ren, don't worry," Jun replied ingratiatingly.

Slowly, the pain began to subside, replaced by an overwhelming sense of strength and vitality.

A faint glow illuminated the den as a phantom image of a Blackwood Alpha Wolf appeared behind Feng, its massive form radiating power.

Yet, it looked slightly different from a typical Blackwood Wolf; silver streaks of hair were interwoven with its black fur, giving it an appearance far more formidable than the average.

The image dissolved into a streak of light, diving into his back.

Feng felt his skin burn briefly before the sensation vanished, replaced by a strange coolness.

Breathing heavily, Feng reached over his shoulder, his fingers brushing the edges of something unfamiliar.

He stood and turned toward a reflective pool of water near the den's entrance, his sharp eyes catching sight of the mark now etched onto his back.

It was a tattoo of the Blackwood Alpha Wolf, its form sleek and imposing.

The creature's eyes seemed almost alive, glowing faintly with a silvery hue.

The tattoo pulsed with energy, its presence unmistakable.

[Heaven's Pact complete. Host has successfully formed the Heaven's Pact of the Blackwood Alpha Wolf (Mutated). Significant changes to the host's body and abilities detected.]

Feng's entire body felt lighter, stronger.

His once-fragile frame was now filled with a quiet, deadly power.

His senses were sharper, his reflexes faster.

He clenched his fists, marveling at the energy coursing through him. It wasn't just strength—it was dominance, the essence of an apex predator.

"This… this is incredible," Feng murmured, his voice filled with awe.

He could feel the presence of the Heaven's Pact within him, its instincts and ferocity now a part of his own being.

As he stood there, staring at his reflection, a happy smile crept across his face.

The broken boy from the village was gone.

What remained was something new—something far more dangerous.